THE GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE of 8-21-2017:

     By now, it’s a major news event:  the  Total Solar Eclipse will be sweeping across the United States on August  21, 2017.  What’s so unusual about this particular solar eclipse is that  it is a “Total” solar (new Moon) eclipse covering the U.S. exclusively,  which means the 70-mile band (width) of the full eclipse will impart  complete 100% darkness over the region in which it directly passes in  the U.S. on this date.  The U.S. has not seen an exclusive total solar  eclipse passing only across this country since before the founding of  the nation in 1776.   This very rare event will enter the United States  at 10:19 A.M. PDT off the pacific coast at Yaquina Head, Oregon.  The  path of the solar eclipse (in its zone of totality) continues on a  southeasterly diagonal path, passing across Idaho, and finally exiting  the country through Charleston, SC at approximately 2:49 P.M. EDT, then  dissipating over the Atlantic Ocean.  

    Astrologically (using  the sidereal zodiac), this eclipse takes place at 5 degrees Leo, in the  nakshatra of Magha.  So, individuals with planets at this critical  degree or between 2-8 degrees Leo will experience a stronger, more  direct influence in their life experience as compared to those who have  no planets there.  Exactly what aspect of your life will be directly  influenced by this solar eclipse is completely dependent upon which  planet is involved, which house it resides in and which rulership  house(s) the planet governs within a given chart.  

     Even if you have no planets or important chart points in Leo, you are  still going to experience some repercussions associated with this  eclipse, especially if you are U.S. citizen.  As a country, the U.S. has  been experiencing the Rahu mahadasha since October 2015.  During the  mahadasha of Rahu, a solar eclipse (which involves Rahu’s conjunction  with the Sun and the Moon), makes the eclipse even more powerful,  salient and meaningful for the U.S. as a country.  Rahu is the  “planetary point” which represents unconventional behavior/concepts,  ignoring social norms, separating from others, breaking boundaries,  intense grasping for more, search for opportunity, advancement,  recognition and material gain---- all for better or worse and at any  cost.  Some of this will include great discoveries in technology and  medicine and other aspects related to this include seizing resources at  the risk of harming the natural environment (e.g. worsening global  warming effects).

      Moreover, in the U.S. chart, the Moon is  at 7:14 degrees Aquarius in Shatabhisha, in the 3rd house, and will be  directly influenced by an opposition aspect on the day of the eclipse.  The 3rd house governs communications and war for a country.  Shatabhisha  is a nakshatra specifically linked to medicine/healing/health care and  addictions.  The crisis involving health insurance in this country is  not going away any time soon and this eclipse highlights the need for  the U.S. to make a sacrifice and deal with its expectations involving  health care delivery and insurance costs. The expectations have to  change and some type of sacrifice has to be made to solve the problem  (if you deeply understand the meaning of Shatabhisha).  The opioid  addition crisis in the U.S. has skyrocketed and this is highlighted here  as well.  This has to be contained, or it will get worse over the next  two years.   

     The eclipse itself is taking place within the  9th house of the U.S. chart which is the house governing prosperity,  higher education, law, judges, and long-distance travel (immigration  & migration) as well as dealings with foreign countries.   These are  the specific areas that will be deeply influenced in the U.S., not on  the day of the eclipse itself, but for the coming 2 years.  Eclipses  give us a premonition about what is ahead for us in the years to come.   Why two years?  Because with this particular eclipse it will generally  last about 2.35 minutes as it passes through a given city or area.   The  general rule of thumb is for every one minute, the influence of an  eclipse lasts for one year in the area where it passes.   The eclipse  effect is stimulated by future transits of planets that cross that exact  eclipse point during the next two years, in the case of this particular  solar eclipse. 

     Magha is a nakshatra that is specifically  associated with death, as its deity the Pitris are ruled by Yama, the  god of death.  Death also refers to endings of situations and realities.  Magha’s shakti is the power to “leave the body.”   We are likely to  witness more souls leaving their physical bodies during August and  September, than is normal.  It is possible that one of the Supreme Court  justices will pass away or become so ill that he/she has to leave the  bench, within the next two months.  

     Magha’s connection to  the past, one’s ancestors and the family is also salient.  The tendency  to remember or reconnect with family members arises with this eclipse,  especially if there are issues to be resolved or healed.  

      An eclipse can portend making a completely new start with your life  and ending a major phase or approach to your life.  It can be very  freeing and cathartic from that perspective.  This eclipse can reflect a  major ending, destruction, upheaval or transformation in some  particular aspect of life that will manifest during the next two years,  or require the full two years to complete.

     Magha refers to  the “throne” or the elite class, the one who sits on the throne  (including judges), and none other than the current president of the  United States, Donald Trump.  What’s even more fascinating is that  President Trump has his Lagna (1st house) sitting in Magha (Leo) at 6:51  degrees and his Mars is also in Magha at 3:40 degrees.  So, Mr. Trump  is getting the full weight of this eclipse experience on his back.  Mars  rules the 4th and 9th houses in his chart, so these areas are  particularly under the gun. The 4th house involves his many real estate  ventures.   The 9th house is also the house of the advisor, as well as  dealings with foreign countries.  He will have to confront his own views  on receiving advice and how to accept it or reject it, as he just chose  a new “Chief of Staff,” a former military general (Mars).  He will also  have to deal directly head on with going to war (Mars in his 1st  house), which is on the horizon for the U.S. Notice how the upcoming  eclipse is already affecting Trump’s orientation and decision-making  with a militaristic emphasis.  It’s also prompting a great deal of  change and upheaval.

     During a total solar eclipse, there is  complete darkness, as the Moon blocks the Sun’s light from the earth.    When you are not expecting it, darkness can be scary (what lurks in that  darkness?).  You can not see clearly without light and you lose some  control.  Think of the night time, in total darkness, when life comes to  a stop, it is a still moment, when activity stops and people retreat  inside (unless you live in NYC).  It is a time for replenishment,  turning within, slowing down, allowing the body and mind to integrate  the previous day’s efforts.   

     Similarly, during an eclipse,  the darkness tells us to turn inward, reflect, review, regroup and stay  still in the calmness of the phase.  It is not a time to begin new  projects, make major commitments or accept offers for at least three  days on either side, surrounding the eclipse. 

     On the  mundane level, if a person stares at the Sun during a total eclipse, he  will burn his eyes out and damage the optic nerve.  If you try to  capture a photo with a camera or cell phone camera in the path of the  eclipse, it will blow up your phone!  It’s that intense and powerful  externally and internally.  

     On the positive side, it is an  excellent time for tuning into your higher purpose, to clear the air,  let go and go deeper within, to be still amidst the outer darkness in  the world.  It’s not always comfortable looking within and coming to  terms with what you see.  The eclipse reflects that uneasiness as the  darkness descends upon you during the day when it is not normal.  It’s  uncomfortable, odd and uneasy.  

     During this month, a lot of  people will become agitated for reasons that they don’t understand.   So, they start trying to make major changes or decisions to get rid of  the discomfort---- just when they should stop, slow down and turn in for  the night.  It’s as if they are driving too long at night on a long  journey and they refuse to stop and get some rest and perspective.  This  leads to mistakes, accidents and confusion.  

     This is a  time, of all times, to pay attention.  You will notice a lot of  phrenetic activity around you and especially in the U.S. throughout the  month.  Take note, stay still and centered.  Don’t fall prey to the  irritations, the blow-ups, arguments, invitations to fight, and wild  roller coaster that others are riding this month.  With the eclipse  falling in the U.S. 9th house, along with Mercury, the discord centers  around legal matters, philosophy, education, religion, spirituality and  foreign countries (immigration), especially long distance travel  matters. 

     Life does not generally stop for difficult  transits.  But, this is one where it would be wise on August 21st to  stop for a few hours as the eclipse comes closer to your part of the  U.S., tune in, meditate, pray, turn off your cell phone, stay silent,  experience the darkness and see what comes to you over the several days  surrounding this highly unusual eclipse experience.